When it comes to asphalt, you have many choices as homeowners. There are three different grades available in asphalt. The grades available are I-2, also known as base; I-5, known as top ;and the I-4 or commercial top grades. The difference in the tree grades are that the I-2 or base consists of ¾ inches of stone. The base grade is generally used in corn stabilizing level. The I-5 or top is commonly used for homeowners and businesses. I-4 or Commercial top consist of a mixture of ¾ inches of stone and is used when added stability ans strength is needed for the asphalt.

These are the different grades of asphalt, but are there any different types of asphalt? The answer is yes: there are two different types of asphalt available for homeowners, including 41A and 41B. The two types of asphalt are very similar, but they do have a slight difference. The 41A is also known as the driveway mix, as it is commonly used for driveways. The 41A has a mixture of rock and sand that is very fine in diameter with an oil content up to a 6.0%. The oil content is added to the mixture to combine, then applied to the area for the asphalt driveway. The mixture can have more oil added to it. If more oil is added, it can allow the sand and rock to hold together better. However, doing this can make the asphalt susceptible to marks and weight problems.

On the other hand the 41B type allows the rock and sand mixture to be larger. As large as 5/8 of an inch big. The oil content is also dropped the 5% on the 41B. What is the advantage of the larger rocks and sand, along with the oil drop? This creates an asphalt that allows for heavier load applications on the asphalt, including up to one ton of weight. There is one disadvantage of having the 41B type and this would be that the surface is not smooth due to the larger rocks and sand mixture.

Which one should a homeowner choose? Which is the best type of asphalt? Both of the types of asphalt are great, it simply depends on the needs of the homeowner. If a homeowner needs a heavier weight load, then the 41B asphalt type should be selected. For ordinary driveway use, then the 41A is the choice that most homeowners choose.

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